The Ancient Mysteries.

beginning , consisted of grateful offerings to God , the invisible spirit , and which were of a simple and rational character , were recognised by Confucius as the sacrifices of the past , and by Christ as the precursors or a greater sacrifice to

comewhich sacrifice he fulfilled in his oAvn person . In both of these characters we recognise that full Christian spirit which binds man to his brother man everywhere in the fraternal bonds of love , iindness , and good fellowship , and which impels him " to do unto others what he Avould they should do unto him . "

But , on the other hand , Ave can trace in the idolatry and wickedness of those Avho rebelled against the truth certain traces of the dark mysteries which unite men in a fellowship of evil aud of persecution against all that it true , and genuine , and charitable .

But Buddhism intervened in China to mar the beauty and the simple mysteries of the primitive religion by strange inventions and the introduction of strange gods , just as idolatry did in other portions of our globe about the same time .

Buddhism began iu India as early as the seventh century before our era , but it was not introduced into China till about the year 60 after Christ . This form of religion or idolatry very much resembles Popery in its power of adapting itself

to all places , persons , and circumstances . It is , in fact , a very harlequin in the variety of its metamorphoses to suit all kinds of character . In Thibet it is a hierarchy ; in India , it is a caste ; in China , it may be said to reign supreme , although

it has no recognised hierarchy or status granted to it by Government or the laws . The votaries of this doctrine believe in a benevolent deity , associated with others of an inferior character . The believe also in the transmigration

of souls and in the efficacy of good workstherefore they pray earnestly to their idols , perform works of austerity , and provide for the anticipated wants of the soul in Hades or Purgatory , and also for deceased relatives ancl friends .

These doctrines involve many and strange mysteries , and introduce practices Avide apart from the purity and simplicity observed by the patriarchs , which both Confucius and Christ have laboured to restore , but which the Buddhists and their

confreres in Europe oppose with all their might , and with a pertinacity Avhich would do honour to a better cause . But the great characteristic of Buddhism is ,

that it is fully determined to rule or ruin . Under the cloak of sanctity it veils a despotism which can tolerate nothing free , generous , or noble upon the earth . If two or three men bind themselves together in a bond of fellowship to be good ,

honest , and charitable , the Buddhist lakes the alarm , lest they should introduce a new element that might , in time , undermine his authority and deprive Mm of his occupation . It matters not what may be the name of the benevolent society ,

Avhether it be that of Christian , Freemason , Odd FelloAv , or anything else , it becomes an enemy to t he Buddhist by the mere fact of its existence ,. and he will be satisfied with nothing short of its complete destruction ; and to attain this end ,

neither time , nor money , nor conscience will be spared . The innocent Mason or Christian , or whatever he may be , is denounced as an enemy to mankind—and the pretext for this denunciation is found in the fact that he is bound to his brethren

by some secret tie , although that bond is simply for the sake of recognition or distinction . Let us then awaken to the fact that there is an eternal and irreconcilable antagonism between the ancient mysteries ivhich Confucius , Christ and the

benign spirit of Freemasonry have endeavoured to to resuscitate amongst men , and those dark , cruel mysteries , which , under the assumed cloak of piety and -religion , have filled the world with blood , with confusion , with terror and mourning .

The first are represented by the champions of free thought , free speech , charity , and benevolence evej-yAA'here ; the last , by the Lama of Thibet , by the Buddhist Hierarchy of India , and by theAvhole caste in China ; but more especially by that

despotic council now assembled at Rome , whose avoAved purpose it is now , as heretofore , to trample liberty , humanity , and true religion under foot , and to make this fair earth of ours a howling desert and a bleak wilderness . " By their fruits , y © shall know them . "

Masonic Jottings.—No. 17.

MASONIC JOTTINGS . —No . 17 .

BY A PAST PKOVINCIAL GRAND MASTEB . CEREMONIES AND SYMBOLS . Do the ceremonies and symbols of modem Masonry proceed directly from the Medieval Building Corporations , or is their origin to be

sought for elsewhere ? This is the question which German Masonic writers began to consider about the year 1857 .